As the year comes to a close, it is time to conclude our series on the magnificent birds chosen to represent the United States by looking at two final states and one territory.
State bird selection began almost one hundred years ago with Kentucky selecting the much-admired northern cardinal in 1926, and the last state to choose one was Arizona with the adorable cactus wren in 1973. Of the 50 states and other territories, 32 do not have unique birds as their emblem – the aforementioned cardinals, plus meadowlarks and mockingbirds have the lion’s share, but today we finish with three more standalone species chosen to fly the flag of their homelands.
UTAH
California Gull
The designation of Utah’s state bird, the California Gull, occurred in 1955, but these medium-sized seabirds were already celebrated in the region since 1848 when a historical event known as the “Miracle of the Gulls” occurred. A massive cricket infestation threatened the crops of the Mormon pioneers, and as the settlers prayed for deliverance, flocks of California Gulls descended upon the crickets, devouring them and saving the crops. In recognition of this miraculous event, the California Gull became the perfect symbol of perseverance and gratitude. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources works to preserve habitats, manage populations, and educate the public on the importance of wildlife conservation.
VERMONT
Hermit Thrush
Vermont’s state bird, the Hermit Thrush, was chosen in 1941 due to it being both a native and a summer visitor. Said to have “the finest song in nature,” the Hermit Thrush represents the Green Mountain state’s tranquil and natural environment. It is the only species of the five US thrushes to be seen in North America during the winter, aiding its identification, and has won the hearts of many an artist over the years; Walt Whitman immortalized this compact bird in his elegy for the dearly departed Abraham Lincoln, and a hermit thrush also appears in T.S. Eliot’s epic The Wasteland.
Vermont prioritizes conservation through the Vermont Center for Ecostudies, which conducts research on bird populations and their forests, wetlands, and other critical habitats.
VIRGIN ISLANDS
Bananaquit
While not technically a state, we wanted to include this archipelago in the Caribbean Sea whose residents are still classed as US citizens, as their choice is a wholly unique bird that deserves a mention. The Bananaquit’s name is derived from one of its favourite foods (as well as its vibrant cadmium hue), and the English word quit, which refers to small passerines of tropical America like the grassquit, and another frugivorous bird, the orangequit. They are small warblers native to the Caribbean and were declared the official avian emblem of the Virgin Islands in 1981. This small, vibrant bird, whose yellow plumage is beautifully offset by a distinctive black mask, was selected to reflect the islands’ rich biodiversity and colorful natural surroundings. The Yellow Breast, as it is also known there, can be seen on the flag, perched on a stem of the national flower, the Yellow Cedar, with three of its fruits, three flowers in bloom, and three leaves, all representing the three major islands.
